Flip Kwikset left-hand lock knob to right-hand keyhole reversal

Next time you do. Please try to reverse the handing of the lock
by twisting the exterior knob 180 degrees (leave the cylinder
in). Then put it all back together. Uh, er, I mean TRY to put it
back together.

You don't absolutely need to pull the lock cylinder to install the lock and
have it work but the keyway may be upside down. The lock will still work and
the people who are saying you don't need to flip it probably don't even know
that the pins are supposed to be at the top of the keyway. If they aren't,
even on an interior install where water etc isn't a factor all debris from
normal operation winds up going right down the pin wells. A broken or
collapsed spring will also hang it up whereas if the pins are at the top
gravity is your friend.

not really :-)
an upside down keyway traps dirt and debris that can get
into the top springs,
and cause problems down the road.
an upside down keyway traps dirt and debris that can also
causes restriction on the pins movement.
not to mention the help of gravity to help allow the pins
manipulating freely.

That's wrong. The pins in the keyway should be on top. Following your
instructions they may or may not end up that way. If the Keyway orientation
is not right for the handing of the installation then the only way to
correct it is to flip the cylinder.

Thought if you were closer I could show you how to do this.
Anyway. First time I tried to turn a kwikset keyway right-side up was
quite a learning experience. Can practically do it in my sleep now but
don't usually do much with Kwikset. Anyway, not a big thing to install the
lock with pins down for a while, anyway. Go ahead and do it. Gotta
think, though, that there is a good samaritan up your way that will guide
you through the process of changing the keyway. Go back to where you
bought it and ask. You might get lucky.

&
keyed
keyed
to
The cylinder clips in place with two spring steel clips at 180 degrees to
one another. This allows it to be flipped for proper keyway orientation.
It's designed for removal with a special tool but you you can also probe the
clips from the rear with a sharp pick or other instrument. Note that this
lock is also vulnerable to a widely available tool that removes the cylinder
from the front even while locked so the security that it provides is next to
nill.

It would be nice to have a DIAGRAM of those two apparently deeply hidden
clips as locating them was too difficult for me when I tried on my own. The
good news is I complained to Kwikset on their web site and they very kindly
responded multiple tikmes to my email.
The first time they responded, they said many people just leave the locks
upside down. When I responded back that I thought that was unprofessional,
they kindly wrote back that they would send me the tool for free.
I must say that my anger at them subsided at that point as the Kwikset
support person was truly trying to help me.

I've since learned this is a "grade 3" lock and that a grade 1 or 2 would
be better. Since the door has glass panels, I wonder if it really matters.
I guess breaking glass leaves a mess while removing the lock cylinder does
not?
If a thief removes the lock cylinder with that tool, does it leave a
telltale mess or is it transparent?

The tool that Kwikset will send you works from the inside of the lock after
removing the spindle.
You have to take the lock off the door first. A crook wouldn't use that
tool... Maybe an exterior used cylinder removal tool like the A-1 Puller.
That lock will work fine on that glass door (oil the piss out of it prior to
installation). Besides there're going to get in anyway if they want.
Glass....
I can't believe how long this subject is floating around. HD and Lowes has
that tool in there rekeying kit.
They would've popped the cylinder out for you for free. At least they do
and would've here! Hell I would've done it for free.
With my fancy Rytan removal tool. :-) Kwikset probably sent you a tool
just to stop all the emails (polite way of saying "shut you up").
They probably caught wind of all these.
Roger

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